Expansion and co-location for Lotus in the USA

· First deliveries of New Lotus Evora 400 in USA and Canada in
December 2015

· Expansion of the Lotus dealer network

The introduction of the Lotus Evora 400, as a 2017 North
American Model Year, marks the start of a fresh period in Lotus’
presence in this vital market. The previous model Evora already
received positive acclaim from media, customers and dealers
alike and reaffirmed Lotus as the maker of some of the finest,
purest, most lightweight and most efficient sports cars sold
today.

Jean-Marc Gales (Image:
Groep Lotus PLC)

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive Officer, Group
Lotus plc, explains: “The Lotus Evora 400 combines high
performance with the legendary Lotus benchmark handling. It is
lighter, more efficient and dynamically better than ever. It is
the perfect high performance machine for those discerning buyers
seeking a hand built British-built sports car that possesses a
purer driving experience, greater agility and a more involving
drive.”

To coincide with the introduction of the Lotus Evora 400 into
the North American market, the company has expanded its dealer
network to 47 outlets, with the introduction of four new dealers
in both West Covina and Thermal (in California), Scottsdale (Arizona)
and Calgary (Alberta), with exciting growth planned for the near
future.

In addition, and in the most significant change in Lotus’
presence in the USA for many years, Lotus Cars USA. Inc, (LCU),
based currently in Lawrenceville, Georgia, will co-locate to
Lotus Engineering. Inc, (LEI) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the heart
of the US motor industry. This will ensure that both divisions
can grow their individual operations, while benefiting from
improved efficiency through sharing a number of business
functions. This co-location is expected to be completed by the
end of July 2015.

Jean-Marc Gales continued: “North America, as the largest sports
car market in the world, is important for Lotus, both for model
sales and for our engineering consultancy business. By having
both of our USA organisations located in Michigan, we shall be
within the heartland of the USA automotive sector, where the
headquarters of some of the most important, influential and
significant automotive manufacturers and suppliers are based.
This will reaffirm our presence in the North American market, by
providing improved customer service, better technical and
consultancy support, while ensuring that we have access to a
skills base not found anywhere else in the territory. All of
this fits with Lotus developing speedily in North America in
years to come.”

The Lotus Evora 400, unveiled at the Geneva Show in March 2015,
has already generated excitement worldwide. With 400 hp, an
acceleration to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds and a maximum speed of
186mph, the Lotus Evora 400 is six seconds quicker around the
company’s Hethel test track than the previous Evora S.